live together: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (B1)Neutral to informal; common in everyday speech, journalism, and social sciences.
Quick answer
What does “live together” mean?
To share a home and domestic life as cohabitants, typically without being married.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To share a home and domestic life as cohabitants, typically without being married.
To exist in proximity or share a space harmoniously, applicable to people, groups, or even abstract concepts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Shack up' is a more informal, slightly dated synonym used in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, it often carries a neutral social connotation, though conservative contexts may imply a non-marital relationship.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “live together” in a Sentence
SUBJECT (people/group) + live togetherlive together + ADVERB (happily, peacefully)live together + PREP PHRASE (for five years, in London)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “live together” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to live together before getting married.
- The flatmates live together quite harmoniously.
- My grandparents never lived together before their wedding.
American English
- They're living together to save on rent.
- The couple lived together for three years in Chicago.
- It's common to live together as a trial period.
adverb
British English
- They live together happily in Bristol. (part of phrasal verb)
- The siblings live together, albeit somewhat grudgingly.
American English
- They live together peacefully in the suburbs.
- Can predators and prey live together? (figurative)
adjective
British English
- They are a live-together couple. (hyphenated, rare as adj.)
- Their live-together arrangement suited them.
American English
- Their live-in relationship is going well. ('live-in' is more common)
- They have a live-together lifestyle.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in HR policies regarding employee relationships.
Academic
Common in sociology, demography, and family studies to describe cohabitation trends.
Everyday
Very common to discuss relationship status and living arrangements.
Technical
Used in legal contexts (e.g., 'cohabitation agreements').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “live together”
- *We lived together in the same hotel for a week. (Use 'stayed at the same hotel')
- *They are living together with her parents. (Redundant; use 'living with her parents')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it most commonly does, it can also refer to friends, siblings, or roommates sharing a home platonically. Context usually clarifies.
'Cohabit' is the more formal, often legal or academic term. 'Live together' is the everyday, neutral phrasal verb. They are synonyms in most contexts.
Yes, in a figurative or biological sense. For example: 'Dolphins and whales can live together in harmony in this bay,' or 'These two chemicals cannot live together in the same solution.'
Only when used as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., 'a live-together agreement'). As a verb phrase, it is never hyphenated.
To share a home and domestic life as cohabitants, typically without being married.
Live together is usually neutral to informal; common in everyday speech, journalism, and social sciences. in register.
Live together: in British English it is pronounced /lɪv təˈɡeð.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /lɪv təˈɡeð.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shack up (together) (informal)”
- “Play house (often implies immaturity or pretence)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LIVE-in relationship where two people come TOGETHER under one roof.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOGETHERNESS IS PHYSICAL PROXIMITY IN A SHARED CONTAINER (HOME).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the primary meaning of 'live together'?